Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has argued that the democratic model currently utilized in Nigeria lacks indigenous African context. He suggested that the Western-style system promotes a combative political environment where winners exclude their opponents.
During his appearance at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Obasanjo compared the adoption of Western political structures to wearing ill-fitting clothing. He noted that while Western systems were built upon monarchical traditions that allow for a loyal opposition, the concept of a loyal opponent does not translate well into many African languages, where the word for opposition often signifies an enemy.
Obasanjo stated that this disconnect leads to a political climate defined by a desire to crush or destroy rivals rather than work with them. Because the current system operates on a winner-takes-all basis, the candidate who secures victory by even the narrowest margin gains total control, marginalizing those who lost regardless of their contributions or standing.
